Our Infrastructure
Our large-scale research facilities provide centralized infrastructure, resources, tools, and expertise in pursuit of compelling science. As the only laboratory operating at this scope and scale in Canada, TRIUMF tackles problems too large and complex for any single researcher or institution. Our state-of-the-art accelerator complex — featuring the world’s largest cyclotron and the most powerful superconducting electron linear accelerator — is the foundation upon which our competitive advantage rests. As you explore our different infrastructures below, you can discover on the campus map which areas of the TRIUMF site contain elements of the highly distributed infrastructures. It will also become apparent how our infrastructures support or enable research across our multidisciplinary research topics.
The TRIUMF campus features a variety of state-of-the-art accelerators that drive our multidisciplinary science program and commercial isotope production. The 520 MeV proton cyclotron and the 30 MeV SRF electron linac (e-Linac) are the drivers for most of the multidisciplinary science program. The ARIEL and ISAC rare isotope facilities rely on high-power isotope production targets and ion sources, mass-separators and other beam delivery system, as well as heavy-ion linear accelerators for rare isotopes. Medical isotopes for research and commercial purposes are produced with the 520 MeV cyclotron as well as five dedicated low-energy cyclotrons in the BWXT facilities as well as IAMI.
The Accelerator Facilities support the science program for the following Research Topics:
- Accelerator Science
- Applied Ion Beams
- Applied Radioisotopes
- Molecular and Materials Science
- Nuclear Astrophysics
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Nuclear Structure and Dynamics
- Precision Tests of Fundamental Interactions
The Advanced Rare Isotope Laboratory (ARIEL) is a purpose built multi-user rare isotope facility using the Isotope Separation Online (ISOL) technique. Rare isotopes are produced in parallel in three production targets with beams from the 520 MeV proton cyclotron (2 stations) and the 30 MeV 100 kw e-Linac. Rare isotopes emerging from the targets are ionized and the rare isotope beam (RIB) of interest is selected via high resolution mass separators and prepared and delivered either directly to low energy experiments or accelerated with the ISAC linear accelerator chain to medium or high energy experiments.
The ARIEL and ISAC science program covers the following Research Topics:
- Accelerator Science
- Applied Radioisotopes
- Molecular and Materials Science
- Nuclear Astrophysics
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Nuclear Structure and Dynamics
- Precision Tests of Fundamental Interactions
The Centre for Molecular and Materials Sciences (CMMS) is one of only a few facilities in the world that uses particle beams of muons and rare isotopes to characterize the electronic and magnetic properties of advanced quantum materials under a range of conditions. And, when ARIEL is online, our rare isotope capabilities will be unparalleled. We will renew and enhance our facilities and use them to find new quantum materials to build better batteries, electronic devices, and quantum computers.
The CMMS science program covers the following Research Topics:
- Accelerator Science
- Applied Radioisotopes
- Molecular and Materials Science
TRIUMF’s Design & Fabrication Facilities include the Design Office, Engineering teams, and Machine Shop, and are essential to our research teams’ visions into prototypes and one-of-a-kind components. The Machine Shop has capabilities that includes advanced computer-controlled machining for complex cutting and 3D shaping as well as other precision cutting and welding tools. The Machine Shop is a world-leader in creating components for high-vacuum environments required in many of TRIUMF’s accelerators, beamlines, and experiments.
The Design & Fabrication Facilities supports the following Research Topics:
- Accelerator Science
- Applied Ion Beams
- Applied Radioisotopes
- High Energy Frontier
- Molecular and Materials Science
- Neutrinos and Dark Matter
- Nuclear Astrophysics
- Nuclear Chemistry
- Nuclear Structure and Dynamics
- Precision Tests of Fundamental Interactions
TRIUMF has world-wide unique expertise and infrastructure for the development, design, and construction of advanced particle and photon detector systems from new detector materials to digital readout electronics. The Detector Facilities support researchers from TRIUMF and Canadian universities for experiments at TRIUMF, SNOLAB, and various international facilities. The expertise ranges from electrical and mechanical design and manufacturing of detector components to full system integration including readout electronic and data acquisition.
The Detector Facilities supports the following Research Topics:
- Accelerator Science
- Applied Ion Beams
- Applied Radioisotopes
- High Energy Frontier
- Molecular and Materials Science
- Neutrinos and Dark Matter
- Nuclear Astrophysics
- Nuclear Structure and Dynamics
- Precision Tests of Fundamental Interactions
IAMI is a state-of-the-art facility for research into next-generation, life-saving medical isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. Located on TRIUMF’s campus, it will comprise an integrated series of labs and a TR-24 medical cyclotron, one of the most technologically advanced commercial cyclotrons in the world. IAMI will significantly increase British Columbia’s and Canada’s capacity for the sustainable and reliable production and distribution of medical isotopes currently critical for Canadian health research and clinical use, including 99mTc and 18F.
The IAMI science program covers the following Research Topics:
- Applied Ion Beams
- Applied Radioisotopes
- Nuclear Chemistry
TRIUMF’s Proton Irradiation Facility and Neutron Irradiation Facility (PIF & NIF) are premier facilities for testing the radiation effects of protons and neutrons on electronic equipment. PIF & NIF enable evaluating whether electronic equipment can withstand radiation exposure in the atmosphere or outer space. The facility is also used to test detector components for next generation subatomic physics experiments. The Proton Therapy facility, Canada’s only one, provides life-saving treatment of eye cancers for Canadians.
The Irradiation Facilities supports the following Research Topics:
- Applied Ion Beams
- High Energy Frontier
TRIUMF’s Life Sciences facility combines cutting-edge expertise in the research and production of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for use in nuclear medicine and the broader life sciences. This includes the TR-13 and IAMI TR-24 cyclotrons for radioisotope production and state-of-the-art radiochemistry labs customized for the research and production of radioisotopes and clinical radiopharmaceuticals.
The Life Sciences Facilities supports the following Research Topics:
- Applied Ion Beams
- Applied Radioisotopes
- Nuclear Chemistry
TRIUMF’s Ultracold Neutron Facility (UCN) is aiming to be the world’s highest-density source of ultracold neutrons. High density is critical to the research because most ultracold neutron experiments are statistics limited—the experiments require enormous numbers of individual measurements to arrive at a statistically reliable result. The flagship experiment for the UCN facility will be a world-leading search for the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron, which will constraint or discover beyond Standard Model physics.
The UCN science program covers the following Research Topics:
- Precision Tests of Fundamental Interactions
Explore how our Teams & Tools use TRIUMF's infrastructure to discover and innovate
Our Teams & Tools leverage TRIUMF’s unique infrastructure, network, and role in the global community in pursuit of our Research Topics.
Use the search function and filters below to explore our Teams & Tools and learn how they accelerate discovery and innovation.